The brother of Caroline Flack was found hanged at his home following a series of difficult ‘life events’, including his sister taking her own life and his father’s death, an inquest heard today.

Norfolk Coroner’s Court was told how Paul Flack, 55, had a history of depression and was nearly four times the drink-drive alcohol limit when he died on the evening of June 21 this year – three days after his birthday.

But the father-of-two was also said to have been affected by the death of his sister six years earlier.

A neighbour heard his partner, Jo Millington, repeatedly saying: ‘His sister did this, his sister did this,’ after his body was found in his garden in Norwich, Norfolk.

Mr Flack had further been upset by the death of his father Ian, who died aged 77 in November last year after being diagnosed with dementia in his early 70s.

He was also concerned about a reduction in the amount of work he got as a freelance graphic designer.

The inquest was told neighbours had tried to resuscitate him after his daughter Alice, 20, found him lifeless in the garden.

Paramedics took over the resuscitation attempt and he was taken by ambulance to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Mr Flack was found to have 296mg of alcohol in 100mls of blood, nearly four times the legal limit of 80mg. His cause of death was given as ‘out of hospital cardiac arrest’ due to hanging.

Paul Flack, who was found hanged in June aged 55, pictured with his sister, TV presenter Caroline, who took her own life six years earlier

Norfolk Area Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a narrative verdict, saying he had hanged himself while under the influence of alcohol.

She added his ‘intent in doing so is unknown’ but continued: ‘It was noted that he had periods of low mood in recent years after various life events.’

Ms Millington, Mr Flack’s partner of 32 years, said he had always worked as a graphic designer but the amount of work available for him had begun to decline in recent years, which ‘contributed to his sadness’.

He had also begun to feel ‘anxious’ about going out, she added in a statement which was read to the inquest.

Ms Millington disclosed that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019 which was her second diagnosis of cancer.

She added: ‘Following this, Paul’s sister took her own life and not long after that we all went into lockdown due to Covid… I don’t think he ever really recovered from this.

‘He would occasionally mention going to counselling but this would never happen. He never sought help for mental health.’

She continued: ‘To my knowledge, there was never any suggestion of him harming himself. He would drink alcohol at the weekend but it was never excessive.

Paul, pictured with his sister in the months before she died in 2020

‘But in the week leading up to his death he had drunk more than usual.’

The couple had been to a neighbour’s home for supper the night before his death and, after they returned home, Mr Flack had sat in the kitchen drinking alone.

The next day, they spent time with their son and his girlfriend in their garden where he remained during the evening.

Later on, his daughter screamed when she found him lifeless at the end of the garden, said Ms Millington.

Neighbour Olive Merrill described how she was alerted by the sound of ‘shrieking’ at around 10.30pm and Ms Millington calling out: ‘It’s Paul, it’s Paul.’

Ms Merrill said in her statement: ‘Jo came back to us and carried on saying, “His sister did this, his sister did this”.

‘Jo said he had been in a bad mood all day. He has been off all day.’

Paul and his mother Christine at Caroline’s memorial bench in a recent documentary

Paul’s final Instagram post remains a tribute to his sister

Mr Flack’s GP, Dr Catherine Clark of the West Pottergate Medical Centre in Norwich, said in a statement that he had reported in August 2020 having a low mood which had been worsening for around five years.

Dr Clark explained he was prescribed anti-depressants and counselling but he didn’t make any appointments. He was not on prescribed medication at the time of his death.

Mr Flack’s final Instagram post in 2020 was a tribute to his sister, who died aged 40 on February 15 that year after losing her Love Island presenting role after she was arrested for assault.

Sharing a picture of them together, he wrote: ‘This will be my last post here. May those who know feel shame for eternity. Love you Caroline.’

Norfolk Police said at the time of Mr Flack’s death: ‘Officers were called by ambulance after concerns for the safety of a man in his 50s at a property in Sandringham Road.

‘He was taken by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but was sadly pronounced dead at 10.44pm [on June 21].

‘The death is being treated as unexplained at this time but police do not currently believe there are any suspicious circumstances.’

The East of England Ambulance Service declined to comment as the incident took place at a private address.

Ms Flack was just 40 when she died shortly after learning that police were proceeding with an assault case against her

Mr Flack’s mother Christine, who lives in Norfolk where her children grew up, said in the Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death documentary that her ‘biggest regret’ was not speaking up during her daughter’s final months, when the family had been warned against voicing their opinions.

Christine said: ‘I think Caroline would be pleased with what I’m doing. I wish I had done it then, before she took her own life, and that’s my biggest regret, that I wasn’t shouting like this, then. But now I have nothing to lose. The worst thing in the world happened with losing Carrie.’

Caroline rose to become one of the nation’s best-known presenters, hosting The X Factor, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! spinoff shows and Love Island.

She also triumphed on Strictly Come Dancing, picked up a Bafta and took to the West End stage as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

At the time of her death, she was in a relationship with former semi-professional tennis player Lewis Burton, and had been accused of assaulting him following an argument at her north London home.

She admitted hitting her partner with a mobile phone after seeing a message that made her believe he had been unfaithful.

When Lewis said he would call the police, Caroline became distressed and injured herself before officers arrived at the scene.

While the injury to Lewis’s head did not require medical treatment, she was taken to hospital, where she received care for 12 hours.

Mr Flack had a history of depression and was nearly four the times the drink-drive alcohol limit when he died

In the weeks that followed, she was charged in connection with the incident. After learning that the case would proceed despite Lewis not pressing charges, she killed herself.

No family members were at the inquest today.

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